We all do it. We all complain and sometimes even compliment businesses and professionals we deal with. I always rate restaurants and attractions I go to (I'm going for my next badge on TripAdvisor).
Some people rate their doctors, dentists, and more. I haven't gotten that far. I do blog about my doctors from time to time but I usually keep a line of anonymity and privacy do not blast them using their name. I try not to be negative as a rule on other people.
This one man did blog about his unhappiness with his wife's doctor after she died from cancer. Then the doctor sued him for damage to her career in response. This isn't an isolated incident.
If a restaurant or hotel receives a bad review, they can go back and apologize below the review and proactively try to help the customer. Doctors can't do that. They are compromised by privacy laws and HIPAA restrictions.
I personally don't read reviews for doctors online. At my breast cancer diagnosis, I was and still am being treated at a local hospital where I am comfortable with the quality of care.
Everyone I knew was reviewing their doctors and medical facilities online and using those reviews to choose doctors and where to be treated. My doctors weren't listed so it didn't really help me. All it did was make me feel bad that no one had reviewed my doctors so how was I supposed to know if they were good or not.
Before I tried to look them up, I was happy with my care.
I have never reviewed my doctors either. I don't think reviews of medical providers do much good. There is too much emotion wrapped around medical care. The man who blogged about his wife's doctor was upset his wife died, friends didn't visit, and regretted the surgery she had. It was an emotional time for him.
I admit to blogging about stupid neurotic co-workers, cranky doctors, idiot drivers, and many others. But I don't put their names in and it allows me to vent. I am not writing to blast others but to allow me to add my two cents.
As far as I am concerned its within my First Amendment Rights and I am not opening myself up to any lawsuits. And besides, I like my doctors and feel no need to review them now.
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
A momentus event
I have no idea how this happened. It was not planned. Its significant (but not the cure for cancer we all want).
This my blog's 2000th (two-thousandth) published post. Back on Saturday, June 2, 2007, I had no idea my blog would be around this long.
I planned a little blog about my breast cancer adventures. It sort of developed into a life of its own. I had to blog every day. And I did. I very rarely skip days - usually this only happens when I am out of internet range.
Even if I hadn't developed new ailments would I have kept blogging? Probably. Its an addiction. It would probably be more a blog about my cat/husband/garden/adventures, than just health. Wouldn't it be nice if I didn't have so much 'health' to write about.
Blogging has been a great outlet to me. It has helped me through the cancer roller coaster, it allowed me to meet wonderful people both on and off line. It has opened a whole new world in term of how to be a patient in the 21st century. And its a lot of fun.
I guess I'll keep going. I have a few more blog posts lurking in my brain and a bunch of new ailments to get under control. Do I have 2000 more in me? Who knows. Only time will tell.
This my blog's 2000th (two-thousandth) published post. Back on Saturday, June 2, 2007, I had no idea my blog would be around this long.
Even if I hadn't developed new ailments would I have kept blogging? Probably. Its an addiction. It would probably be more a blog about my cat/husband/garden/adventures, than just health. Wouldn't it be nice if I didn't have so much 'health' to write about.
Blogging has been a great outlet to me. It has helped me through the cancer roller coaster, it allowed me to meet wonderful people both on and off line. It has opened a whole new world in term of how to be a patient in the 21st century. And its a lot of fun.
I guess I'll keep going. I have a few more blog posts lurking in my brain and a bunch of new ailments to get under control. Do I have 2000 more in me? Who knows. Only time will tell.
Its a whole new world out there
So you get an ailment and, in the very 21st century way of doing things, you start a blog. You meet all kinds of people (in person and virtually), get and give support, and learn a lot about your ailment and resources available for you. You start following other blogs, sign up for communities and listservs, you get people to communicate with world wide.
Its amazing how much information and support is out there - its truly a wonderful thing. It can be a full time job to keep up on a single ailment.
But I started behind the curve as I had two ailments - two cancers - thyroid and breast to blog about. I have mostly focused on breast cancer but I have let the thyroid cancer come into play as well.
But now I have more ailments - fibromyalgia and rheumatoid - to cope with and blog about. I have followed more blogs, joined more online communities and listservs, my inbox has its own little folders to help manage the vast quantity of emails I receive - the most popular folders being 'Cancer' and 'Health'. I have a lot more to learn.
I never realized how insulated in the cancer world I was until I read the Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy's blog this morning about more of the best inflammatory arthritis blogs. I like the RA guy - he is a self described superhero blogging his way through chronic pain and debilitating inflammation. I will probably even join the monthly pain support group help locally as I learn more about my new issues.
I digress. Now I have a whole new world to learn about out there - find support, learn about my new ailments, and keep on blogging.
Its amazing how much information and support is out there - its truly a wonderful thing. It can be a full time job to keep up on a single ailment.
But I started behind the curve as I had two ailments - two cancers - thyroid and breast to blog about. I have mostly focused on breast cancer but I have let the thyroid cancer come into play as well.
But now I have more ailments - fibromyalgia and rheumatoid - to cope with and blog about. I have followed more blogs, joined more online communities and listservs, my inbox has its own little folders to help manage the vast quantity of emails I receive - the most popular folders being 'Cancer' and 'Health'. I have a lot more to learn.
I never realized how insulated in the cancer world I was until I read the Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy's blog this morning about more of the best inflammatory arthritis blogs. I like the RA guy - he is a self described superhero blogging his way through chronic pain and debilitating inflammation. I will probably even join the monthly pain support group help locally as I learn more about my new issues.
I digress. Now I have a whole new world to learn about out there - find support, learn about my new ailments, and keep on blogging.
Recent blog posts suck
Okay, I admit my recent blog posts suck. I have been busy. I have been sleeping. I have been working. We have house guests. Its the holidays. But my blog posts have sucked for longer than just this past week or so. I am not as inspired or as inspiring I guess.
The main reason for not having as much to say is because my cancer stuff seems to be falling more in the background. Which is a good thing. But its not that it has fallen in the background but that my other health issues are overtaking the cancer crap. Currently. I am sure my cancer crap will return to the forefront and upcoming doctor appointments. In some ways its nice to have multiple medical ailments because I can alternate my stress.
My recent doctor appointments have all been about my back and RA and fibro. But I have upcoming appointments in the next month or so on my back and RA and fibro where I can discuss how treatment is going and what are we going to do to change it, and alternatives, and all sorts of fun things.
But I also have upcoming appointments in the next month or so with oncologists and endocrinologists (with thyroid cancer you get an endo instead of an onc most of the time). These conversations will be cancer related so I'll be able to stress about cancer again.
I need some time to find our more about some research which is new and exciting but the news these days is all about the stupid politican's cliff.
I digress. My recent blog posts suck. I will work on them and attempt to be inspired more in the future.
The main reason for not having as much to say is because my cancer stuff seems to be falling more in the background. Which is a good thing. But its not that it has fallen in the background but that my other health issues are overtaking the cancer crap. Currently. I am sure my cancer crap will return to the forefront and upcoming doctor appointments. In some ways its nice to have multiple medical ailments because I can alternate my stress.
My recent doctor appointments have all been about my back and RA and fibro. But I have upcoming appointments in the next month or so on my back and RA and fibro where I can discuss how treatment is going and what are we going to do to change it, and alternatives, and all sorts of fun things.
But I also have upcoming appointments in the next month or so with oncologists and endocrinologists (with thyroid cancer you get an endo instead of an onc most of the time). These conversations will be cancer related so I'll be able to stress about cancer again.
I need some time to find our more about some research which is new and exciting but the news these days is all about the stupid politican's cliff.
I digress. My recent blog posts suck. I will work on them and attempt to be inspired more in the future.
Health activism soapbox
#NHBPM Being a health activist is a new role with the use of online media. I define health activism is taking the time to learn about your ailment, share your information with others, and work to help others cope with the ailment. It can also include advocacy and outreach efforts.
WegoHealth wrote a white paper about what is a health activist tht you can read here. Their definition is:
"Health Activists are leaders who work daily to improve the way people talk and think about health. If you are sharing your health story and helping others live better lives – you may already be a Health Activist. Health Activists are passionate about raising awareness for health causes, dedicated to finding the best information about health conditions, and relentless in their commitment to help others. They are also adept at using every tool possible to reach their communities, especially through social media."
I have some how gotten myself into this role for breast and thyroid cancer. I am comfortable in this role for these two ailments because I have educated myself, taken the time to learn about them, and am comfortable sharing information and directing others to resources that will help them.
I do a lot of this through this blog but also on Facebook and other message boards. You see me do this when I write about an article, or a website, or treatment experience. This is activism in action. This helps me cope with my cancers by helping others.
My problem now is I need to get myself to the same level of knowledge on my newer ailments - fibro and rheumatoid. If I can get myself educated on them so I can become more comfortable with them. Will I end up as a health activist for them as well? Only time will tell. But it will help me cope.
WegoHealth wrote a white paper about what is a health activist tht you can read here. Their definition is:
"Health Activists are leaders who work daily to improve the way people talk and think about health. If you are sharing your health story and helping others live better lives – you may already be a Health Activist. Health Activists are passionate about raising awareness for health causes, dedicated to finding the best information about health conditions, and relentless in their commitment to help others. They are also adept at using every tool possible to reach their communities, especially through social media."
I have some how gotten myself into this role for breast and thyroid cancer. I am comfortable in this role for these two ailments because I have educated myself, taken the time to learn about them, and am comfortable sharing information and directing others to resources that will help them.
I do a lot of this through this blog but also on Facebook and other message boards. You see me do this when I write about an article, or a website, or treatment experience. This is activism in action. This helps me cope with my cancers by helping others.
My problem now is I need to get myself to the same level of knowledge on my newer ailments - fibro and rheumatoid. If I can get myself educated on them so I can become more comfortable with them. Will I end up as a health activist for them as well? Only time will tell. But it will help me cope.
Somewhere out there...
Over the rainbow, far far away. There are all sorts of politics, elections, unrest in the Middle East and more. I don't care. I learned at the last presidential election that I had to go into avoidance mode to keep politics out of my life.
I do understand politics are important and I vote. But frankly I am not interested in negative ads where the candidates slam each other but never say what they are going to do. Or the candidates who fall from grace because they were set up by an opponent as a drug dealer. Or the former candidate in MA who said he has an addiction for $500/hour hookers but not for sex - only dinner and a movie. (Thats a lie if I've ever heard one.)
At this point in my life, I have plenty going on and will never run for politics. Maybe I'm selfish but I'm happy in my own little world with with work, my cat, my husband, our little house with its garden. I don't need to deal with the rest of that crap. I don't have enough time or energy to do much more these days. I do have a social life.
But I also visit doctors regularly. One appointment this week, another in ten days. Then a bunch in October and a couple in November. Then presto! we are done with the big elections for another four years. And I won't have to worry that I might be missing anything on the elections, politics, and all that...
Celebrating?
Tomorrow is my blog's fifth birthday. Five years ago I started this little means of communication. Who knew that over 1800 posts later, I would still be writing it? And still going to the (damn) doctor all the time.
It also means its been five years since my breast cancer diagnosis. I'm not celebrating. Some people jump up and down and say five years and have a party or some other celebration. I don't feel the need.
For some reason, cancer statistics always include five year survival rates. That doesn't mean squat. Its a number that was selected and used but cancer can still recur later. I did some research on this (which means I asked Dr. Google) and found that the Mayo Clinic provides some insight. (The Mayo Clinic is a bit smarter than Dr. Google so I will believe them.)
First it gives some back ground on what a survival rate is:
"One of the questions many people ask when first diagnosed with cancer is about their prognosis. You might want to know whether your cancer is relatively easy or more difficult to cure. Your doctor can't predict the future, but an estimate is possible based on the experiences of other people with the same cancer."
"Cancer survival rates are based on research that comes from information gathered on hundreds or thousands of people with a specific cancer. An overall survival rate includes people of all ages and health conditions who have been diagnosed with your cancer, including those diagnosed very early and those diagnosed very late."
This means based on other people with the same diagnosis, this is what you can expect. If a five year survival rate is 90% it means, that 10% of the people with the same diagnosis didn't make it five years while 90% did. The cup half full says 90% is the number to focus on. Its a statistic so when you focus on these you become a statistic.
Also, as I said, they don't mean squat:
"Cancer survival rates often use a five-year survival rate. But that doesn't mean that cancer can't recur beyond five years. Cancer can recur many years after successful treatment. Discuss your risk of a cancer recurrence with your doctor"
So in other words, they are statistics and you need to talk to your doctor about your particular case. This is your standard lawyer sanitized, Dr Google medical speak, CYA language to say they are merely numbers and don't really mean anything.
So no I'm not celebrating. Not yet, I'm waiting until they find a cure.
It also means its been five years since my breast cancer diagnosis. I'm not celebrating. Some people jump up and down and say five years and have a party or some other celebration. I don't feel the need.
For some reason, cancer statistics always include five year survival rates. That doesn't mean squat. Its a number that was selected and used but cancer can still recur later. I did some research on this (which means I asked Dr. Google) and found that the Mayo Clinic provides some insight. (The Mayo Clinic is a bit smarter than Dr. Google so I will believe them.)
First it gives some back ground on what a survival rate is:
"One of the questions many people ask when first diagnosed with cancer is about their prognosis. You might want to know whether your cancer is relatively easy or more difficult to cure. Your doctor can't predict the future, but an estimate is possible based on the experiences of other people with the same cancer."
"Cancer survival rates are based on research that comes from information gathered on hundreds or thousands of people with a specific cancer. An overall survival rate includes people of all ages and health conditions who have been diagnosed with your cancer, including those diagnosed very early and those diagnosed very late."
This means based on other people with the same diagnosis, this is what you can expect. If a five year survival rate is 90% it means, that 10% of the people with the same diagnosis didn't make it five years while 90% did. The cup half full says 90% is the number to focus on. Its a statistic so when you focus on these you become a statistic.
Also, as I said, they don't mean squat:
"Cancer survival rates often use a five-year survival rate. But that doesn't mean that cancer can't recur beyond five years. Cancer can recur many years after successful treatment. Discuss your risk of a cancer recurrence with your doctor"
So in other words, they are statistics and you need to talk to your doctor about your particular case. This is your standard lawyer sanitized, Dr Google medical speak, CYA language to say they are merely numbers and don't really mean anything.
So no I'm not celebrating. Not yet, I'm waiting until they find a cure.
Letting my insecurities rule in blogland
I started my blog and using the wonderful templates, I tried to customize it. I changed it around a few times. But now I have my own little pink, blue, and purple pages. It is not pink due to pinkificiation. It is pink because I like pink. But I digress.
Then I started looking at other people's blogs. Theirs are so much better than mine. They put in pictures. I rarely put in pictures because that means I have to remember to upload the pictures from my camera to my computer. I just uploaded more than six months of pictures so there is hope for the coming weeks. I usually stick with comics that I like.
They get lots of comments and have hundreds of followers. I have 65 followers (and I am proud of all of them) but some people have 300-400. Why not me?
They have nicely designed blogs with images, and funky text, and all sorts of things. My blog is pretty boring in its pinkness. Would you know from looking at my blog that I work on lots of websites and people pay me to do so? Why isn't my blog prettier with more followers and more comments? I'm not good enough.
I am not providing any links to these blogs which are better than mine. They are all better than mine (except for the ones that have a single entry from four years ago that says 'I just started my new blog and I'll be sure to update it every day.') My blog is just not that great. Just like I could not write the great American Novel (and if you asked my high school English teacher, I couldn't even write a decent essay), I will never be able to write the great American Blog.
It turns out I am not just insecure about this. I have a new ailment called blog envy. Isn't that one of the deadly sins? Envy Grr. I usually do not compare myself much to others. I don't really care if my clothes are the latest style - they have to be clean and comfortable, or my hair is perfect - I do wash and brush it daily but often not much more, and my house clearly is not the cleanest - the maid has had the last decade off. I am what I am and I call it like I see it. But I do have blog envy.
You read those other perfect, fancy blogs, with lots of comments and followers. People manage huge families, large businesses, save the homeless, recycle everything, and are completely perfect. Or so they claim. Can they be?
Over at Shabby Blog, there is a post on how to blog and not have blog envy. Yes its a pretty blog and I am linking to it so you can see her followers and comments (84 and counting on this single post). Her list on blogging is:
Then I started looking at other people's blogs. Theirs are so much better than mine. They put in pictures. I rarely put in pictures because that means I have to remember to upload the pictures from my camera to my computer. I just uploaded more than six months of pictures so there is hope for the coming weeks. I usually stick with comics that I like.
They get lots of comments and have hundreds of followers. I have 65 followers (and I am proud of all of them) but some people have 300-400. Why not me?
They have nicely designed blogs with images, and funky text, and all sorts of things. My blog is pretty boring in its pinkness. Would you know from looking at my blog that I work on lots of websites and people pay me to do so? Why isn't my blog prettier with more followers and more comments? I'm not good enough.
I am not providing any links to these blogs which are better than mine. They are all better than mine (except for the ones that have a single entry from four years ago that says 'I just started my new blog and I'll be sure to update it every day.') My blog is just not that great. Just like I could not write the great American Novel (and if you asked my high school English teacher, I couldn't even write a decent essay), I will never be able to write the great American Blog.
It turns out I am not just insecure about this. I have a new ailment called blog envy. Isn't that one of the deadly sins? Envy Grr. I usually do not compare myself much to others. I don't really care if my clothes are the latest style - they have to be clean and comfortable, or my hair is perfect - I do wash and brush it daily but often not much more, and my house clearly is not the cleanest - the maid has had the last decade off. I am what I am and I call it like I see it. But I do have blog envy.
You read those other perfect, fancy blogs, with lots of comments and followers. People manage huge families, large businesses, save the homeless, recycle everything, and are completely perfect. Or so they claim. Can they be?
Over at Shabby Blog, there is a post on how to blog and not have blog envy. Yes its a pretty blog and I am linking to it so you can see her followers and comments (84 and counting on this single post). Her list on blogging is:
- Be original
- Respect other's originality
- Blog blindly
- Be kind
- Blogging isn't everything
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